St.Andrews Partnership Jewellery Range By Georgia Rose

We are now supporting Brighter St.Andrews by launching a unique range of jewellery that will help raise funds for the pioneering initiative. We have teamed up with Perthshire jeweller Georgia Rose to create a stunning range of 'pilgrim badges' inspired by the rich history of St.Andrews.

Ten percent of all proceeds from this jewellery range go to Brighter St.Andrews, the first initiative of its kind in our town. The project involves businesses and their customers contributing to enhance the vibrancy and appearance of St.Andrews, creating an even better environment for the local people and heightening the visitor experience.

Throughout the Middle Ages, thousands of people would travel to St.Andrews to venerate the relics of St.Andrew. These mementos were usually sewn onto pilgrims' clothes. The new jewellery, is an elegant souvenir for the modern day pilgrims to the Home of Golf, international visitors retracing the footsteps of their ancestors or students attending Scotland's most ancient university.

The collection includes a lapis lazuli necklace, which evokes the unique rock formations of the fife coast; howlite earrings, which pay tribute to the home of golf; and a lapis lazuli and howlite bracelet, representing the colours of the St.Andrews flag.

Eric Brown, Chairman of the St Andrews Partnership said ''We are delighted at the support we have received from local businesses such as Artery Gallery, who are as determined as we are to help make St Andrews even more attractive for residents and visitors alike.''

Georgia Rose said ''Brighter St Andrews is an excellent cause, which we are all very passionate about. Anything that makes St Andrews better is well worth supporting and we look forward to working closely with the St Andrews Partnership on this pioneering venture.''

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Aldona Juska Thistle Art and Jewellery

Specialising in botanical art and using recycled materials, Yorkshire-born Aldona Juska somehow manages to imbue normally industrial materials such as copper and steel with a sense that they have organically grown into the work that she produces.

Now resident in Edinburgh, Aldona spent many years abroad in the USA and Australia working as a librarian. Ever keen to use to her creative side in her spare time, she jumped at an opportunity to work with talented Mexican blacksmiths in Los Angeles, California and it was here that she discovered her affinity with metal work. This led Aldona to take a creative metal art course upon her return to the UK and begin working out of her own welding studio in 2002.

Since producing her first studio work nearly ten years ago, Aldona has risen both in popularity and confidence, receiving critical acclaim from The Scotsman newspaper, and others, along the way. Initially creating delicate and eye-catching jewellery and sculpture, Aldona has now developed a body of work that includes elegant and unusual candelabras and centrepieces perfect for display in any home.

Artery Gallery is proud to show a range of Aldona’s pieces, including examples of her thistle-inspired work. With these, Aldona has captured the form of this quintessentially Scottish plant in items as diverse as kilt pins, cufflinks and candleholders. An added Scottish twist is that some of her ‘thistle-making’ materials have been reclaimed from North Sea oil platforms – making every one a handcrafted blend of contemporary and traditional Scotland.

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Colin Carruthers

Northern Irish artist Colin Carruthers’ gorgeous seascapes evoke specific memories in non-specific ways. His non-representational, but rather idyllic oil paintings of coastal scenes depict the landscape free from distractions or tell-tale landmarks, leaving the image natural and carefree, as in our memories.

Colin earned a BA Honours in Fine Art from the Birmingham Institute of Art. Although based on actual locations, he removes telling landmarks, people and other signs that detract from the emotional memories attached to a place that the viewer may remember from their own travels. In essence, they are physical representations of a memory or idyllic place. Colin aims to create the feeling or sensation of a particular place without overtly stating where the place is, aside from in the title of the painting.

Many of his seascapes are based on the Scottish coast, particularly the Fife coast. Colin regularly travels to Scotland and finds the drama of the Scottish coast to be a source of influence and inspiration for his work. He views his work as a challenge, searching for more than just pure aesthetics. ‘There’s a challenge involved in my art work,’ he says. ‘With every canvas I attempt, I am searching for something. Beyond simply looking at my paintings and gaining an aesthetic pleasure, I do think it’s important that they offer up space for thought. Colin’s paintings, often created in a variety of subtle colours, blues, purples, greens, depict the landscapes at their best, with bright sunset light, or strong clouds, white crests of waves or wildflowers overlooking sandy beach.

While Colin’s paintings are not what a camera might capture of the same location, they evoke more memory and emotion than a snapshot, allowing for the changing nature of the landscape. Many of his paintings, including ‘Cloudburst’ and ‘Cowslips, Buttercups’ are painted as diptychs or triptychs, a single scene covering multiple canvases. Each separate section of a diptych or triptych is a complete composition of its own, depicting a beautiful section of land, made all the more dramatic by its inclusion in a larger composition.

Colin’s style is reflective of the fact that land changes constantly. ‘What adds to the experience of my paintings is the sense of ongoing changes in perception… The coast keeps ‘re-making itself’. I want my canvases to reflect that,’ Colin said.

We have a number of Colin’s dramatic pieces here in Artery in a variety of sizes and styles. Pop into the gallery and see how his work brings back holiday memories for you or to find a souvenir of your travels to Scotland.

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Scott Carruthers Exhibition

Scott Carruthers’ Solo Exhibition

We are pleased to be hosting the first solo exhibition of acrylic painter Scott Carruthers at Artery Gallery, beginning on 18^th May! His exhibition will include a new body of work entitled ‘Paintings of Plastic Men’, the name inspired by Lowry’s ‘Paintings of Matchstick Men’.

Scott is a self-taught artist whose work became so popular that in 2009 he devoted himself to painting full-time. In this short time it is clear that his work has found its niche and resonated with people as his collections regularly sell out.

His signature style features child characters on a clean, white background, allowing the subjects to be the sole focus of the paintings. He says, ‘Painting the characters in a naïve, cartoon-like style helps represent the childhood aspect of the work, taking the seriousness out of the piece and at the same time accentuating the innocence of children. Scott says he is not sure how this particular style came about, but he knew that he wanted them to be simple, yet have something significant happening in them. ‘Keeping the landscape plain and white means there is no outside interference with the essence of the narrative. The focus is then solely on the characters themselves, all the same (as though they could easily just be one person), yet all painted as individuals.’

He calls his work ‘Nostalgic Observations’ as all of the subjects depict childhood and its simplicity. Scott draws inspiration from his own childhood memories and from his children, noting the similarities and differences between the generations.

His work is also largely influenced by the work of Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock, even including tributes to their paintings in some of his work. He pays homage to Warhol in the sense of memories being the foundation for his work and also in depicting modern, iconic subjects such as LEGO people and plastic army men. Scott has created an entire series called ‘Artist Collection’ that pays tribute to some of his inspirations , incorporating aspects of their signature techniques and styles into his work.

Scott’s upcoming exhibition will be comprised of some of his classic work as well as his new ‘Paintings of Plastic Men’ series.

People have said that his figures have a similar look to LEGO people, so in this series, some of his ‘plastic men’ include the iconic children’s LEGO figures as well as other toy figures including plastic soldiers and table football players rather than human figures. His solo exhibition will begin on Wednesday18^th May and the viewer will also have a chance to meet Scott and ask him about his work on Saturday 21^st May from 1pm onwards. Pop into Artery Gallery at 43 South Street, St Andrews to meet Scott, see his exhibition and even bring home your own nostalgic bit of childhood. We look forward to seeing you!


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Mike Hunter- Modern Twist on Traditional Glassblowing Techniques

What began as a childhood fascination for glass artist Mike Hunter became his self-taught profession. His work is proof of his dedication to the traditional techniques of the Italian masters and he is known for creating historically technical, gorgeous modern glasswork that has not been used commercially since the Victorian era. He describes his work as ‘…individual and contemporary blown vessels of elaborate adornment.’

Mike began his training as an apprentice at Wedgwood Glass of Kings Lynn, Norfolk from the age of seventeen. Even there the masters couldn’t answer his questions about the details of how some glasswork was made, and since then it became his mission to learn glassblowing techniques that would otherwise be lost through disuse. Mike views his experience in trial and error learning to have been invaluable to his current work. He said that ‘people’s conception of an artist usually revolve around some form of training’ but for him training is akin to restriction, and being self-taught he is able to set his own restrictions and limitations by what he can achieve in his work.

He now has his own studio, Twists Glass Studio, in Selkirk, which he opened in 1998. His favoured techniques involve cane-working, (working with rods of coloured glass) and he bases his pieces on the traditional designs of glassblowers from 16th and 17th century Italy and 18th century England. Through seven years of experimentation and dedication he has brought back the near lost technique of embedding coloured glass canes into the stems of glasses and tableware, such as these pieces in Artery Gallery.

He is also known for his use of zanfirico glassblowing, for which he has received numerous awards, including twice being named a finalist for the Glass Technology Award, among others, Zanfirico is an Italian decorative glassblowing technique involving intricate patterns of coloured glass canes arranged and twisted to comprise a pattern within a single glass cane. These new patterned canes are then used to create a glass work, such as the Zanfirico Vase displayed at Artery Gallery.

We have several pieces by Mike Hunter, as well as other glass artists, at Artery Gallery. Mike’s vases are consistently popular, especially his Zanfirico vase, and his impeccable technique makes the colour appear to be floating, supported by clear glass. It is the zanfirico technique that gives the smooth glass vase a textured, woven appearance. Another of Mike’s eye-catching vases is his Murrine Vase, which is made of brightly coloured cross sections of canes, forming unique patterns on a smooth surface.

Glass art has the advantage of being both practical and beautiful by nature. At Artery we also have a selection of his glassware and other table art, including a variety of wine glasses, pitchers and decanters, all painstakingly handmade of the finest quality. His wine glasses are made with intertwined coloured rods forming the interior of the stems. Additionally we have a collection of his Milli pieces, which is a term used to describe glass decorated with slices of coloured canes embedded in clear molten glass, which produces a distinctive decorative pattern of glassware that often resembles flowers. The Milli pieces displayed in Artery include tumblers, tall glasses as well as a pitcher, bright and summery, perfect for an outdoor party.

Knowing the techniques and the precision behind Mike’s glass work, one can better appreciate the handmade designs and patterns in each of his pieces. Pop in to Artery and have a look at Mike’s work. You may possibly find your own piece of traditional, modern glasswork.

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Garry Jones Ceramics

Everybody needs a good laugh and right now Artery Gallery has exactly the pieces to bring a smile to your face. We are pleased to be exhibiting work by ceramicist Garry Jones, whose farm animal creations have character and personality all their own.

Garry loves animals, and that is apparent in his work. He says that they are a ‘continuous source of amusement, happiness, sadness, and of course inspiration.’ All of his ceramic animals are created as 3-D cartoons, somewhat reminiscent of Wallace and Gromit, and their expressions are the essence of the sculpture. Garry does that intentionally, as he aims to give animals human characteristics. He says that his sculptures are ‘a reaction to observations of animal behaviour; I set out to make people laugh.’ He also uses wordplay of common phrases such as ‘Ewe and Me’ and ‘Ewe-fo’ and emulates old silent films where the emphasis was on the expression alone.

The work has a raku glaze, which Garry prefers as the process creates a more unpredictable finish, making each piece unique. The unpredictable style complements the expressions on his animals’ faces, maintaining continuity between the funny and unexpected ideas and the fluid, unpredictable design.

All of his work is filled with humour, whether through the surprised expressions on the animals faces, the comical scenes in which they are depicted, such as ‘Over The Moon’ or through his parodies of the famous sculptures ‘The Thinker’ or ‘The Kiss’ by Rodin, whose poses Garry mimics with hares as his subject rather than people.

While Garry creates a variety of animal sculptures, including chickens, sheep, dogs, hares, cows and more, the current pieces in Artery are part of his sheep series of work, accompanied by ‘Beefcake’ the quirky bull. His sheep come in a variety of sizes and scenes, and they would make a perfect gift for children or adults. With prices starting from just £30 for these fun wee sheep you really can’t go wrong. They have been bringing a smile and a laugh to passers-by, and would be sure to warm your home and your heart.

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New Work by Featured Jewellers

New Work by Featured Jewellers

Artery Gallery is known for representing a wide range of artistic styles in all media and that embodies the gallery’s philosophy that art is for everyone, and with such a wide range of styles and prices, everyone can find the ideal piece of art. While this is clear with our paintings, it also holds true for our jewellery, with prices typically ranging from £26-£200 and styles for everyday wear as well as high end pieces for those special occasions.

All of our jewellers have their particular styles and strengths. Some produce vibrant beaded work, others crystal wedding jewellery, handcrafted metalwork pieces or intricately woven silver. All of the jewellery is made by hand, so just as with the paintings displayed in the gallery, the jewellery is as unique and each piece is an individual work of wearable art. This month we would like to feature two of our prominent jewellers, Sarah Anderson and Angela Learoyd. Both are silversmiths and create gorgeous handmade pieces with their own creative signature styles.

Sarah Anderson is a local jeweller from Fife who received her B.A. Honours from Glasgow School of Art in Jewellery and Silversmithing. She works with sterling silver hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office. The colours and textures of the Scottish Highlands influence her silversmithing and semi-precious stone pieces. The majority of her pieces are made of numerous handmade metal jump rings (necklaces have around 350 rings each!) which require extensive amounts of work.

Gorgeous, yet subtle, Sarah’s work can be worn every day or add some sparkle to your ensemble for a special occasion. Her jewellery is often customisable as they can be made to measure and can be personalised with a detachable stone or charm, an example of which can be seen here.

Angela Learoyd is a member of the Association of British Jewellers and the Association of Contemporary Jewellers and creates mainly pieces that incorporate gemstones with a matt finish and interesting textures. Her work is sure to catch attention! She especially enjoys forming and creating her own beads rather than sourcing them, giving her work a personal touch from beginning to end. ‘Often my inspiration for shapes and textures comes directly from the stone,’ she said. Deriving inspiration directly from the sources allows for an organic and original flow of work, leading to different styles simply by the nature of the material.

Artery Gallery is excited and honoured to be the first gallery to exhibit new lines of work from both Sarah and Angela. Sarah is currently creating a Limited Edition range of chain mail that will be a gallery exclusive, available from April.

Angela is working on a series of statement pieces that are based around her large and unusual gemstones together with textured silver hollow hand-formed beads. Artery will be the first to exhibit these new pieces as well. Whether you are looking for intricate silver jewellery or gorgeous statement pieces, be sure to pop into Artery Gallery at 43 South Street, St Andrews and be the first to see these exquisite new ranges of work!

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Graham McKean Exhibition Hits The East Coast

We are thrilled to be currently exhibiting new work by world-renowned Scottish painter Graham McKean. Graham has shown his work in Artery on a number of occasions and his current work is a prelude to the exhibition of his that we will be hosting in December.

A highly popular and collectible artist, some of Graham’s notable credits include ‘Thriller’, Graham’s painting depicting the peak of Michael Jackson’s career, completed shortly after the star’s death. Graham was also commissioned by the Celtic Football Club to create a painting celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions and by the Scottish Opera to create a series of works for the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. He was also commissioned to create a painting and statement for inclusion on bottles of Glenfiddich single malt whiskey.

With such notable achievements to his name, we are honoured to once again be displaying his work in Artery. Graham’s new pieces consist of a cohesive series of figures on a smaller scale, mainly faces created in pastel on black paper, which differs from his primary medium, which is oil.

In ‘A Hidden Beauty’, just a sliver of the woman’s face highlighted from the natural shadow of the black paper is enough to provoke interest in the mysterious woman with her hat drawn low over her face. In another group of images depicting the same aged and weather-worn figure are ‘An Old Sea Dog’, ‘Blowing in the Wind’ and ‘St Andrew’ the bright white of the old man’s beard drastically contrasts the dark background, drawing attention to his weathered features. These three painting would make a nice statement in your home! ‘A Quite Night In’ has a different, more intimate feel to which everyone can relate.

Graham’s new pieces still have his signature flair and bright colour, which makes his work instantly identifiable. They also show ordinary people or scenes that have an uplifting feel. Graham said that “the human condition and the daily struggle of everyday life has always been an inspiration in my work” and that he always tries to ‘produce art that “makes me feel better about the world”.

A testimonial by artist Peter Howsen, said, “My admiration for [Graham’s} art is on so many levels, but first and foremost is the simplicity and beauty of his imagination. Graham has managed to do a rare thing with his art. He has created a style which is uniquely his and is instantly recognisable”.

Come in to Artery Gallery at 43 South Street and see these paintings for yourself. You may even want to take one home and add the incredible work of Graham McKean to your personal art collection!

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Beginner's Guide to Buying Art

Happy February everyone! With 2011 off to a good start, maybe it's time to act on (or keep up!) your annual resolutions. Perhaps this year one of your goals is to begin cultivating an art collection but you aren't sure where to start, or are concerned about the financial ramifications of becoming an art collector?


1. Buy for Sentiment- Pop into your local art gallery and have a browse. Look for artists who are from an area you know, or have created work based around a familiar area. Works that have a story or a connection will mean a lot more to you. Perhaps the artwork reminds you of your childhood or a special holiday. If that is the case and you are looking for work that reminds you of your visit to Scotland or your home in Fife, artists like Aldona Juska or Colin Carruthers may suit you. Aldona creates beautiful thistle pieces made of wire from North Sea oil rigs, such as this Short Thistle Mantle Stem. With her work, you take home a creation that depicts a symbol of Scotland as well as a literal piece of Scotland. Colin's gorgeous oil paintings, such as his Shoreline Daisies are often in subtle pinks, blues and purples, and depict images of Scotland's east coast, in colours and sizes that would make a nice statement in your home. Ask about the artists shown in your local gallery and you can learn a lot about their life and work, making the piece more meaningful to you, and making the piece a conversation starter at home.

2. Look for what you like- This is generally the first thing people tell you when you want to begin an art collection, and oftentimes easier said than done. Some people think that art is an impulse buy and know the second they see a piece that it is exactly what they want. Others have a general idea of styles they like, and that is enough to get started! If you're a fan of the Surrealist style, but can't afford a Dali, check out work by Australian artist Andrew Baines, whose work, such as this Bowler Hat painting, is shown in Artery. If you're a fan of American painter Georgia O'Keefe, but don't want to settle for just a print of her flowers, consider original floral oil paintings, such as Calla Lily, by Jo Beer. Again, ask at your local gallery for similar style substitutes, so that you can find a style you love at a price you can afford.


3. Buy Original- This may seem pricey, but it doesn't always have to be. Buying original is always better than buying a reproduction. Originals do tend to be more expensive than prints, but they hold more artistic and monetary value. However, if you have your heart set on a particular print, always be sure to purchase a copy signed by the artist, for both value and authenticity. An unsigned print is of little value, but original artworks are more likely to be treasured and perhaps even become a future heirloom!

Here at The Artery Gallery we are proud to feature only original pieces by a wide variety of artists with a range of styles. There truly is something for everyone in here! Pop in to visit us and we'll be happy to tell you about our artists and help you find new artwork that you will love!




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St Valentine's Day Goodies

We just wanted to remind you that it's only a couple of weeks until St Valentine's Day.

We have loads of gorgeous goodies for your loved ones in store just now, so come in to get inspired (or drop hints!!).

For glamourous girlies out there we have some stunning silver jewellery such as this silver & red acrylic bracelet by Jo Timoney, called 'That's Amore' - you couldn't get something more appropriate!

We also have cute clocks in heart designs to celebrate your love (aawww!) - a couple of different designs by Tim Fowler - we have heart shaped clocks in red, purple & silver, and at £37 each, they won't break the bank!

Whatever you are looking for, be sure to come into Artery to find your heart's desire.
See you at 43 South Street, St Andrews!

New Year - another successful year ahead for Artery!

First of all, let me take the opportunity to say happy New Year to all of you! We hope you all had a fab festive season, and a great January.

Christmas was an exceptionally busy time of year for us - even the snow and freezing temperatures didn't put shoppers off - either you're all brave, or you're all mad!

This year we have lots of beautiful artworks in the gallery for you, and lots of new, exciting pieces coming in over the coming months. Keep an eye on here, on our website, and also on our Facebook page for updates and interesting news.
For example, Artery regulars, Whittle Design, have created a new collection for us, including vibrant reds in their metal work, which might be perfect for your Valentine!

Come into Artery Gallery on 43 South Street, St Andrews for more inspiration for St Valentine's day, or otherwise.....look forward to seeing you!

New Arrivals, New Season

Jo Beer, Anemone, £350

So as one season falls behind us, we are gearing up for a new one! We have just had time to catch our breath and catch up on all those jobs we set aside during the summer, and now we are preparing for our busy Christmas season. You Christmas shoppers have been fast off the mark this year, with many gifts already bought online and in store.

We have lots of new work in now to see us through this busy spell - with some new work from 'old' artists, and work from new artists too!

We would like to welome Jo Beer, Sue Parry and Jeff (JZ) Imrie to the gallery - we are delighted to have your gorgeous new work here!

Jo Beer paints beautiful, large-scale modern botanicals, in rich oils. Her close-ups of flowers give us a fresh take on old fashioned chintz - like a vamped up version of Willaim Morris - take a look and see what you think (top).

Sue Parry has deliverd us a most beautiful collection of glass work - little tealight holders, glass hearts, and stunning glass sculptures and bowls. Sue uses the most unusual techniques - and you can read all about her inspiration on her page on our website by clicking on the photo to the left.

Sue Parry, Three Seasons, £270

Jeff Imrie (with the comical nickname of JZ!) has made an unusual bottle holder for us - creative and functional! It really differs from the usual home-store style wine rack, and has been a bit of a talking point in the gallery! He has also created a stunning 'Tree of Life' sculpture for us as well - something that I think needs to be seen in the flesh to appreciate it's 'wow' factor.

There are so many fabulous new things in the gallery - it would take an age to tell you about all of them - so why not come along to visit us on South Street, St Andrews, or stop by our online store.
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Graham McKean Exhibition!

Graham McKean, 'Bunkered Again!'

First of all, I must apologise for a long absence from our blog! It has been an exceptionally busy summer, and I may have neglected some of our readers - so a big sorry!!

Secondly - a quick round-up of summer in St Andrews......CRAZY! It has been such a busy season, with a fantastic amount of tourists from all over the world, lots of golfers, our ever-present local support, day trippers, and many of our St Andrews Uni' students who have stayed for the summer. With such a varied collection of shoppers, it has made our summer really interesting and exciting. It's always great to know where our support comes from, and to meet some of our 'online' customers has been great - we have had a few customers who have come from far-flung corners of the world and said to us that they had viewed the gallery online. It's great for us to meet you - and so strange to think that you have been looking at our gallery from your home in Texas, or in Nice, or St Petersburg, and now you have actually been in here! The world wide web has really made the world a bit smaller.

We have some exciting news for you as well - this week, from Saturday 25th September - we are hosting an exhibition of Graham McKean's work.
Graham has previously exhibited with us, back in 2007, and since then he has gained world-wide acclaim for his paintings. His commissions include the very famous painting of Michael Jackson, created last year, which generated global media interest, and his well known portrait for Celtic FC. Hopefully with our six-week exhibition of his work, we can bring you some of this excitement!
The exhibition is running from 25th Sepember until 6th November - we hope you can come along and have a look, and if you can't make it, images of his full collection with us will be availailable on our website from Saturday.
Also remember you can follow all of our news, gossip, and great photos from within the gallery on Facebook.

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Jewellery Making Demonstration

St Andrews is buzzing with the excitement of holidays, graduation the the Open Golf tournament just now. It's a great atmosphere in town with such a cosmopolitan mix of people.

Jewellery designer and maker Sarah Anderson will be paying St Andrews a visit during the Open Golf. On Thursday 15th July, Sarah will be here at Artery Gallery doing a jewellery making demonstration from 11.30am, for those that want a break from the golf!

Sarah is mostly known for her chain-mail jewellery, and her detachable charms are famous. Her designs include intricately linked bracelets, and her charms are made from sterling silver, gemstones and pearls. Each charm can be clipped onto any piece of jewellery such as one of Sarah's necklaces or bracelets, a chain you already have, or even a watch - I wear one of her charms on a ribbon around my neck!

Sarah will be offering customers the opportunity to design their own completely unique charm, and will make it to order for you - which is great of you are buying a gift and can tell the recipient that you designed it yourself!

Come along to the gallery to get a chance to see a Scottish artist in action and to get a little creative yourself!
43 South Street, St Andrews, 01334 478221